Sail away to enjoy best of Canaries' winter sun

Monday 5 December 2011 14:20 BST

Canary mellow: cruise in January for some guaranteed warm weather

For a mother and daughter trip at the end of January, we've chosen the Canaries for a bit of warmth. Which is best: flying there to pick up Thomson's Destiny, an Independence of the Seas cruise from Southampton, or Norwegian Jade from Barcelona? - Sheila Beaven, Surrey

The Canaries - a beautiful volcanic archipelago off the coast of Africa - offer the prospect of much finer weather than continental Europe in January. And a cruise is an excellent way to sample these Spanish islands.

The Southampton option is a good choice if you're fed up with flying. The Independence is a huge ship, with plenty of facilities on board, and is well-designed for travellers with mobility issues.

While Norwegian Jade has a good reputation, starting in Barcelona is, in my view, worthwhile only if you are able to spend a couple of days in the Catalan capital before setting sail - otherwise you are going through the airport rigmarole but still face a long voyage south to the Canaries.

Thomson's ships are smaller and older than the industry standard - yet, in my experience, they have friendly staff, good food and great entertainment. The four-hour flight to the islands from the UK will take you over any inclement weather and a late-January departure also means you can expect a bargain.